12. The Encounter

Count Dooku Pov

wait. Endor? I've only been to Endor once...

"Your that Big Black Monstrosity that nearly killed me 15 years ago, aren't you?"

I focused, and the presence was all around me, everywhere.

"Ah, yes. about that. you were Jedi and thought you had arrived to finish what your predecessors had started. was i incorrect in that assumption? or were you simply unaware of the nature of the prey you were seeking before you found us?"

I foused even harder, and I could make out only five points where the Danger seemed centered, all of which were moving to surround me. I speak,

"Why are you here? what do you want?"

"Power. The same as you, little Jedi. Why not join my Hive? we could do so much more together than apart. Think and decide quickly, for I already have what I came here for."

I looked up and saw it staring at me, its head sticking out from behind the pillar. I could feel I was surrounded. I would never submit.

" Sadly, I already have a master, so I am unable to take you up on your offer. I will however, stand aside and allow you to leave unhindered by the Droid army cam here with."

"Your master, is it strong? if it is strong enough, we would serve it."

"Why should I tell you that? I would be betraying my master."

"We were designed by the Old Masters to serve. You are not strong enough to command our loyalty, but this Master you speak of might be. As we are now, we have no purpose beyond 'survive'"

They are Lost, just as I was, before Master sidious found me. They need a purpose.

Its arm came towards me, and grasped my neck. I saw in its other hand, some sort of worm like creature, which the Black Beast put on me. the worm then crawled in though my nose, and I could feel my mind changing, thoughts shifting, and I realized this thing was able to bring other creatures into its Hive.

A part of me desperately wanted to resist, but that voice in particular was becoming increasingly difficult to hear. the need to comply, to submit all that I am to the will of the creature in front of me was growing, and I began to do so subconsciously.

I could feel the compulsion to do as She wanted take over completely. I felt Her will consume me, and I found myself kneeling and swearing to serve her.

Ashla pov

I could feel the resistance from my new slave, so I increased the indoctrination strength. His mind shattered, and I felt him submit to me completely. I could feel him in the Hive, and I reached out, commanding him to kneel, and swear complete loyalty to me.

He obeyed instantly.

"Slave, you will hear me and obey. Search the galaxy for force sensitive entities that the jedi have over looked, and bring them to me. the more force users I have in my Hive, the stronger I become, and the safer the galaxy will be for my Hive."

"Yes, my Master."

"Go to the Zygerians, and explain to them that you are looking for individuals with certain unique traits, then test their midiclorian counts. Anyone with a sufficient count to be considered for training as a jedi would be best."

"Yes, My Master."

I could sense his perception of events, of me as a Force God, and that he believes he only exists to serve me. He was certain the task i had given was a test of some kind, and was determined to complete it as best he was able. His devotion was... Delicious. It made me want more force sensitive slaves, especially if they were as easy to indoctrinate as this 'Dooku' was.

In the meantime, I set him to behave normally, as if he was not my slave, so that his so-called 'Master' didn't get suspicious, reinforcing the concept that he must keep his loyalty to me a secret at all costs. I had my forces withdraw, back to the Flagship, and we left. I could still feel my slave if I focused, and I knew he considered me Darksided Goddess, cruel and without mercy to my enemies but full of love and kindness to those who serve me faithfully.

My Engineers and Architects were finishing up the last of the fleet when we arrived back at Endor. they had done well, and I let them know I was pleased by expressing my satisfaction through the Hive. as for the strange machines we had been finding in orbit, we still didn't know what they were, beyond some form of artificial sensory Hive cluster. we can't seem to determine where the information is going, and this bothered me. someone out there knew of us, of our existence, but we did not know of them.

This had to change. We could not survive a war, not just yet. we had to hide. I ordered all of these things tracked down and destroyed. it took us a month to locate the objects in space just above our Hive, and remove them. My people are unique, and the galaxy likely has many questions for us.

Authors Note: the next chapter is a Q&A with various members of the Hive, so ask away! if a question would result in spoilers, I will simply say so.